Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Wilson-Jerome.
Hi Crystal, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I am a Therapist and private practice owner of Southeast Perinatal Counseling, host of The Birthstory Therapist Podcast centered around motherhood and maternal mental health, candle maker, and author. I’m a mama to a beautifully gifted and joyful 21-month-old, Miles, and married to a wonderful man, Joab.
I have always had the desire to serve in a capacity that directly influences the health and wellbeing of mothers and their children. Fresh out of graduate school in 2015, I had the opportunity to work in communities with pregnant women and families who were potentially at risk for poor health outcomes, including infant mortality. Having the ability to work within these South Carolina communities allowed me to see significant disparities, specifically with regard to health, because of race, social-economic barriers, and proximity to accessible and affordable resources. The vulnerability of meeting moms and families in their homes, exactly where they were, without judgement but instead empathy, helped me to grow within my scope of practice. I always say, there’s a level of connectedness you get when you do community-based work. The engagement and elimination of power dynamics create a beautiful and fluid space where moms and families are not just open to receiving education to better help their health but actually begin making those necessary changes to do so.
So, whether it was educating on the importance of prenatal appointments, providing solution-focused therapeutic interventions, getting women and children to domestic violence shelters or finding resources to sustain safe parenting practices – this was a moment of understanding that I’m thankful I received early on. I found myself becoming more and more interested in the inpatient hospitalization side of my career, so I transitioned within the same hospital system to the neonatal intensive care unit. The interesting thing here is that I was familiar with the setting from internship experiences but was able to gain so much more foundational framework that would help in my current practice. Working in that type of setting is not for the faint of heart. On any given day, I could have a premature baby weighing 500 grams, a baby born needing surgery and a tracheostomy to help deliver oxygen to his/her lungs, a baby exposed to narcotics in utero, or a baby simply needing to be monitored for minor complications. I had mothers on my caseload who were grieving the loss of one twin and having to find a way to cope as she sat bedside at the other twin. If there was anything that this experience taught me – it was the concept of grace. Learning just how meaningful it can be to extend grace to yourself as you go through tough times was something that I worked extremely hard to get families to be aware of.
The significance of grace offers the comfort that so many need. It drove me to really evaluate what my core values were but also reaffirmed that mamas and babies was exactly where I needed to be. During this time, I was practicing as a Certified Lactation Counselor. Being able to bring awareness in communities, specifically communities of color where breastfeeding isn’t widely seen compared to our counterparts was something that I’ve always been passionate about. Helping moms normalize breastfeeding and supporting them as they gained their way in nursing their littles was powerful to witness. A woman’s body is complete magic and being the person who can help a mama see that her body can quite literally grow, both in utero and post-delivery her baby – is humbling. I’ll never forget receiving a call from a mom who was stuck on her dirt road due to severe weather conditions, unable to get to a store to purchase formula for her baby, and I helped her latch baby on and feed. This was a reminder to myself of the strong and beautiful motherhood is but also a revelation to that mama that in the midst of a storm (no pun intended) – she had the capacity to care for and keep her baby safe. That’s the incredibly empowering work that I knew I wanted to incorporate in a therapy practice.
Years later, I found myself presented with the opportunity to own and open a virtual private therapy practice specifically working with pregnant and postpartum moms and couples. Since 2015, I had been doing intensive training independently and seeing clients here and there but I knew eventually full-time is where I wanted to be. So, that’s exactly what I did. In considering my values, family being at my center, I knew that I could mold my life to uphold those values as I balanced both family and career. Southeast Perinatal Counseling, is based in Georgia however I’m licensed in the state of South Carolina to practice also. It operates in the evenings and weekends which has worked well for families who are also juggling work and family life. I specialize in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. A lot of people think mostly of postpartum depression but there are other disorders as well. Disorders like anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bipolar are also apart of this specialization. It’s important to note that all of these disorders can be seen in both the pregnancy and postpartum period. I mostly see mamas who are dealing with traumatic birth, grief and loss due to stillbirth, miscarriage and loss of self, but I also see lots of mamas who are dealing with pregnancy and postpartum anxiety, intrusive thoughts, as well as the everyday struggles of trying to navigate motherhood.
Walking alongside a woman as she journeys through motherhood is an honor. To be able to validate their experiences and help facilitate the change they want in order for them to find resolve and healing using evidenced techniques is my dream come true. I see so many moms trying to figure out a way to balance their expectations with beliefs that are irrational and using unhealthy ways to cope because it’s been a way to just barely keep their heads above water. My intention is to get moms and couples to a place on their parenthood journey where they aren’t just barely getting air above water but they are overcoming obstacles that hinder their ability to breathe easily. While using more sustainable and realistic healthy techniques, I help mamas discover and do what works best for them. Dads face these same disorders so it has been a pleasure bringing attention to the issues that men face as they journey through parenthood also. I would be amiss if I didn’t take the opportunity to state, 15-20% of women experience significant symptoms of depression or anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum. About 1 in 4 is the number of women who suffer from miscarriage, 1 in 160 pregnancies end in stillbirth, 5000-7000 infants die due to SIDS – not to mention that black women are 3-4x more likely to die during childbirth than other women. So, the work I’m doing is not just something I love but it’s a need.
In addition to offering teletherapy, I also still see breastfeeding clients and do workshops/classes/speaking engagements for agencies needing awareness around perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. My podcast is called The Birthstory Therapist Podcast. You can find that on apple, Spotify and Soundcloud. This is where you’ll hear the collective voices of moms sharing their birth story with the hopes of normalizing their experiences and encouraging another mama that she doesn’t have to be silent about hers because they’re all meaningful even if there’s been challenges. You’ll also hear from myself and other experts in the field. I also have a 52- week guided journal for moms that can be found on amazon called Practically Unpacking. I started making candles during my postpartum period and created a sustainably friendly line which you can find at www.milesofaroma.com. I’m certified in yoga and will begin hosting online classes to help moms and dads with self-care this April. I’ll be dropping some eco-friendly mom and baby merch early summer also!
Currently living by this, “things don’t happen for a reason, things happen and then you find reason”. And that couldn’t be more true for me and my story here.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been challenges as I’ve learned to navigate throughout my personal and professional career. I’m not sure whether it’s because I’m a Therapist or because I’ve always felt this way, but my outlook is simple: there’s duality in everything we do. There will be moments where I’m completely confident and business is booming and other times when I’m faced with imposter syndrome. Similarly, there have been moments in motherhood where I’ve felt like I’m killin’ it and other times when I’ve felt like a bad mom. And that’s okay. I’ve learned early on that what doesn’t happen isn’t a measure of my worth and what does happen isn’t a benchmark for how much more growth I can have. I say this to my clients all the time and would be a lie if I didn’t practice it myself, but self-compassion is the art of the game. I’ve had no client inquiries for months and have felt defeated but then there’s the reminder of self-compassion and grace that I can extend to myself. I’ve had no candle sales during what looked like the peak season for so many other candle companies and have questioned whether I’m even cut out for this. And I always find myself going back to duality, self-compassion, and changing my perspective (focusing on what’s within my control). I think that’s life and a lesson that I’ve not just learned but am grateful for. I recognize and value the complexity that comes with being an entrepreneur and stay at home working mom. There will be highs but there will also be lows and allowing myself to sort’ve take a radical acceptance of this – creates the space that honors those moments that aren’t so great! It’s not only about the outcome, it’s the journey that’s meaningful also.
As you know, we’re big fans of Southeast Perinatal Counseling. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Southeast Perinatal Counseling is a virtual private practice specializing in maternal mental health, specifically perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. I provide therapy to women and couples who may be dealing with mental health disorders both in the pregnancy and postpartum period. I commonly see those with symptoms of perinatal and postnatal anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, grief and loss, trauma, and issues navigating motherhood. Using evidenced based techniques, clients are able to work through their goals and see desirable outcomes.
With my combined experience and specialized training in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, grief & loss, trauma therapy – I’m able to help a parent no matter where they are in their journey. I’ve completed training to provide trauma-focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, attachment therapy, person-centered therapy, and various other modalities surrounding resiliency and skill-building. I strongly believe it’s important to treat each client individually by assessing their needs and identifying the modality that is most appropriate. However, there are fundamentals that are essential in every session and those are teaching clients the concept of self-compassion and duality. It really strengthens their capacity to work through goals. I believe that women face many challenges in life and directly confronting struggles can create a path to healing and wellness. That’s why I also have sessions available for women dealing with life transitions, medical issues, self-esteem, co-parenting issues and life after breakups.
As a Certified Lactation Counselor, I also help moms both before and after birth with their breastfeeding journey through classes and individual support.
The Birthstory Therapist Podcast is also an extension of my practice. It’s an outlet for the collective voices of women as they move through motherhood. The intention is for moms to feel heard, validated, and encouraged as they mother in the ways that work best for them. You’ll hear stories of fertility issues, miscarriage and stillbirths, how they’re managing self care, coping with perinatal mood and anxiety diagnosis, birthstories, the daily situations that motherhood brings and the things that are and aren’t working for them. You’ll also hear from me sharing evidenced based tips and other providers I invite on. It’s raw and very relatable from communication issues with your partner and intimacy plumenting after childbirth to perfectionism and ways to manage expectations.
I also offer trainings to agencies within the community who may service pregnant and postpartum clients. I bring awareness to signs and symptoms, treatment options, and referral sources. This empowers agencies to have the language and supportive processes to help parents who may be dealing with a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder. The goal – working to eliminate the stigma associated with maternal mental health.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I’m extremely close with my family. My mom, siblings, and I are like peanut butter and jelly. As an adult, I’m sure we all talk multiple times a day and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I grew up in South Carolina with a bold and courageous mother, Rosemary, who truly exemplifies the type of love that I hope my son feels as my husband and I raise him. She sacrificed a lot in order to ensure my siblings and I were focused on education but was also encouraging of our creative side. My sister, Karen, and brothers Michael and Nehemiah, joke all the time about how lucky we all are to have picked up that go-getter type energy from her. My mom is a giver and Christ led so it’s definitely in me to be of service to others. Growing up I found myself doing community service projects left and right with little to no resources. Because of her, I’ve never been afraid of handwork and using expressive and creative ways to practice what I love. I have always been an outgoing person. I cheered most of high school and participated in a ton of community service-based organizations all throughout college, including within my sorority. I am a girl’s girl through and through, so I participated in activities that would allow me to gain experience for the future but also uplift other girls and women (interning for domestic violence shelters, moms who had children on the spectrum, running support groups for teenage girls both in the community and in juvey, homeless women and children…). I take pride in being of service to others.
Contact Info:
- Email: crystal@southeastperinatalcounseling.com
- Website: www.southeastperinatalcounseling.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/birthstory.therapist
- Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-birthstory-therapist-podcast/id1549311600?i=1000505427971
- Other: www.milesofaroma.com
Image Credits
Family photo (Instagram: @jennykelleyphotography)
